ESPN’s flagship NBA program makes its annual return this weekend with a new sponsor.
NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC presented by YouTube TV airs Saturday with a double header schedule that kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET. Up first on the schedule is a special matinee broadcast on ABC featuring a cross-conference matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Cavs sit third in the Eastern Conference, seven games back from the conference leading Boston Celtics while the Thunder sit fifth in the Western Conference, 11.5 games back from the conference leading Golden State Warriors.
Though the Cavs currently sit in the top three in the East, the team has been struggling as of late, having gone 2 – 8 in its last 10 games. The last four of those games — reaching back to last Monday, Jan. 8 — have all gone to the Cavs’ “L” column. Cleveland looks to bounce back from that skid tonight as it takes on Orlando at 7 p.m. After that, the team will take a day off to rest up and prepare for Saturday’s game.
Oklahoma City, despite struggling during the season so far, is in the midst of a three-game winning streak, with its most recent win coming Wednesday against conference rival Los Angeles, 114 – 90. The team will be off tonight and Friday in preparation for Saturday’s game. It will need all the preparation it can get, as the team has struggled on the road this season, going 9 – 13 on the road versus going 15 – 13 at home.
Considering both teams’ records so far and most recently, Saturday afternoon’s game can go to either team. Broadcast is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
The Warriors and Houston Rockets headline the day’s action at 8:30 p.m. on ABC in a 1-2 matchup in the Western Conference at 8:30 p.m. on ABC. Houston is five games back from Golden State and has been impressive on the road so far this season, going 21 – 3 so far on the season. The team comes into Saturday night’s game in the midst of a four-game winning streak while Houston — 5 – 5 in their last 10 games — has been off since falling to the Clippers 113 – 102 Jan. 15. Houston will be back in action tonight against Minnesota in another Western Conference matchup hoping to rebound from that loss.
Saturday’s double header schedule is only part of the ESPN networks’ NBA schedule this week. Two more games are on tap for Friday. Those games are noted below along with Saturday’s schedule.
Thu, Jan 18 | 3 p.m. | The Jump Rachel Nichols, Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce |
ESPN |
Fri, Jan 19 | 3 p.m. | The Jump Rachel Nichols, Ramona Shelburne, Tracy McGrady |
ESPN |
7 p.m. | NBA Countdown presented by Mountain Dew Michelle Beadle, Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups, Paul Pierce |
ESPN | |
8 p.m. | NBA Friday presented by State Farm: Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons Ryan Ruocco, Doris Burke |
ESPN | |
10:30 p.m. | NBA Friday presented by State Farm: New York Knicks at Utah Jazz Dave Pasch, Jon Barry |
ESPN | |
Sat, Jan 20 | 3 p.m. | NBA Countdown Michelle Beadle, Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups, Paul Pierce |
ABC |
3:30 p.m. | NBA Saturday Primetime presented by YouTube TV: Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers Ryan Ruocco, Hubie Brown |
ABC | |
8 p.m. | NBA Countdown Michelle Beadle, Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups, Paul Pierce |
ABC | |
8:30 p.m. | NBA Saturday Primetime presented by YouTube TV: Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Steve Javie, Lisa Salters |
ABC |
More information on the ESPN networks’ NBA coverage is available online now along with all of the latest NBA headlines at:
Website: http://www.espn.com/nba
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NBAonESPN
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ESPNNBA
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